Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IV Primary Colour Filter (Rgb) 2020
The 20.3MP Live MOS sensor and TruePic VIII processor deliver UHD 4K video and 8.7 fps bursts in a weather-sealed, 383g body. Its 5-axis IBIS provides 4.5 stops of stabilization, and the included 14-42mm pancake zoom keeps the kit highly portable for travel. This camera is best for vloggers and travel photographers who need a lightweight, stabilized system with a flip-down screen for self-recording.
Snapshot
The 30-Second Version
A beautiful, compact travel camera with killer stabilization and a reliability problem that's hard to overlook. Buy it for the looks and the IBIS, but maybe get a warranty.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Best-in-class stabilization makes every lens better 92nd
- Gorgeous, compact retro body that's actually weather-sealed 91st
- Excellent image quality for stills in decent light 89th
- Intuitive menu and controls, perfect for beginners 87th
Cons
- Reliability is a real concern with multiple reports of bricking
- No USB-C charging or headphone jack in 2024
- Clunky, frustrating app and WiFi experience
- Low-light performance falls apart quickly
What owners think
The Word on the Street
How owner sentiment changed over time
ExclusiveBased on when customers actually wrote their reviews - so you can see whether early praise held up.
Based on 51 dated customer reviews, grouped by calendar quarter. Period analysis is in English.
The proof
Performance
The 5-axis IBIS is the real star here, giving you about 4.5 stops of compensation that makes handheld shooting in dim light a breeze. The 20.3MP sensor delivers crisp, vibrant images in good light, and the autofocus, borrowed from the pricier E-M1 series, is snappy and accurate for a contrast-detect system. What surprised us is how rough the low-light performance gets when you push the ISO, and the fact that the video specs, while offering 4K, feel like an afterthought without a mic jack or modern streaming features.
Specifications
Full Specifications
Sensor
| Type | Live MOS |
| Size | micro-four-thirds |
| Megapixels | 20.3 MP |
| ISO Range | 200 |
| Processor | TruePic VIII |
Autofocus
| AF Points | 121 |
| AF Type | Contrast Detection: 121 |
| Eye AF | Yes |
| Subject Detection | Yes |
Shooting
| Burst (Mechanical) | 15 |
| Burst (Electronic) | 15 |
| Max Shutter | 1/16000 |
| Electronic Shutter | Yes |
Video
| Max Resolution | 4K |
| 4K FPS | 30 |
| 1080p FPS | 60 |
| 10-bit | No |
| RAW Video | Yes |
| Codec | H.264/MOV |
Display & EVF
| Screen Size | 3" |
| Touchscreen | Yes |
| Articulating | Yes |
| EVF Resolution | 2.36 M dots |
Build
| Weather Sealed | No |
| Weight | 0.3 kg / 0.7 lbs |
| Battery Life | 360 |
Connectivity
| Wi-Fi | Yes |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| USB | Micro-USB 2.0 |
| HDMI | Micro-HDMI |
| Hot Shoe | Yes |
vs Competition
The Fujifilm X-S20 is the elephant in the room. It costs more but gives you a larger APS-C sensor, vastly superior video features, and modern connectivity that just works. If video or low-light shooting matters at all, save up for the Fuji. On the other hand, the Panasonic G9 II is a Micro Four Thirds powerhouse that demolishes the E-M10 IV in burst speed and autofocus performance, but it's in a completely different price and size class. The Olympus is for the style-conscious traveler, not the spec-obsessed hybrid shooter.
| Spec | Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IV | Sony a7R V | Fujifilm X-H2S | Nikon Z Z9 | Canon EOS R5 Mark II | Panasonic LUMIX S5 II |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type | mirrorless | mirrorless | mirrorless | mirrorless | mirrorless | mirrorless |
| Sensor | 20.3MP micro-four-thirds | 61MP full-frame | 26.2MP aps-c | 45.7MP full-frame | 45MP full-frame | 24.2MP full-frame |
| AF Points | 121 | 693 | 425 | 493 | 1053 | 779 |
| Burst FPS | 15 | 10 | 40 | 30 | 30 | 30 |
| Video | 4K @30fps | 8K @60fps | 6K @120fps | 8K @120fps | 8K @120fps | 6K @60fps |
| IBIS | true | true | true | true | true | true |
| Weather Sealed | false | true | true | true | true | true |
| Weight (g) | 335 | 723 | 579 | 1160 | 590 | 658 |
| Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare |
| Product | AF | EVF | Build | Burst | Video | Sensor | Battery | Display | Connectivity | Social Proof | Stabilization |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IV | 83 | 91.4 | 89.3 | 80.9 | 73.4 | 47.6 | 92.4 | 87.2 | 84.7 | 5.5 | 85.1 |
| Sony a7R V Compare | 95.4 | 99.2 | 97.1 | 78.9 | 95.9 | 77.8 | 94.5 | 87.2 | 95.4 | 97.8 | 98.6 |
| Fujifilm X-H2S Compare | 90.8 | 96.9 | 94.6 | 93.4 | 97.9 | 96.8 | 98.6 | 99 | 95.4 | 90.3 | 95.5 |
| Nikon Z Z9 Compare | 92.5 | 91.7 | 99.3 | 95.9 | 98.9 | 71.3 | 98.1 | 87.2 | 95.4 | 94.3 | 89 |
| Canon EOS R5 Mark II Compare | 99 | 96.1 | 94.8 | 91.4 | 99.3 | 70.5 | 91.5 | 99.8 | 95.4 | 90.3 | 89 |
| Panasonic LUMIX S5 II Compare | 97.9 | 91.1 | 96.2 | 91.4 | 94.4 | 55.8 | 92.7 | 99.3 | 95.4 | 94.3 | 89 |
Price
Value & Pricing
The price spread on this thing is wild, from $504 to over $13,000 for some bizarre bundles. Ignore the noise. If you can snag the body and kit lens for around that $500 mark, it's a solid deal for a travel camera. Just don't pay a premium for it, the value proposition crumbles fast when you get near the cost of more modern, reliable competitors.
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Overview
The OM System E-M10 Mark IV is the camera you buy when you want something that looks and feels like a classic film SLR but fits in a jacket pocket. It's a travel-friendly Micro Four Thirds body that punches above its weight for stills, especially with that excellent in-body stabilization. The big catch? Real-world reliability seems to be a gamble, and the connectivity is stuck in the last decade.
Common Questions
Q: Is this camera good for vlogging?
Only in a pinch. The flip-down screen is great for selfie framing, but the lack of a microphone jack means you're stuck with the tinny built-in mics. The stabilization is excellent for handheld walking shots, but serious vloggers should look at the Sony ZV-E10 instead.
Q: Can I use this as a webcam?
Nope, not natively. There's no simple USB plug-and-play webcam mode. You'd need a fiddly HDMI capture card setup, which defeats the point of a simple, portable camera. If streaming is a priority, skip this one entirely.
Q: Is the kit lens any good?
It's perfectly fine for starting out. The 14-42mm EZ pancake is sharp enough in the center and makes the whole package ridiculously portable. You'll want to upgrade to a fast prime like the 17mm f/1.8 eventually for better low-light shots, but the kit lens won't hold you back on a sunny day.
Who Should Skip This
If you're looking for a reliable hybrid camera for video and streaming, this isn't it. Go get a Fujifilm X-S20 or a used Sony a6400 instead. You'll trade a bit of that retro charm for a camera that won't leave you stranded with a dead body and no customer support.
Verdict
The E-M10 Mark IV is a charming camera with a fatal flaw: you can't trust it to keep working. When it's firing on all cylinders, the image quality and stabilization are fantastic for the size. But the recurring reports of cameras bricking and Olympus's poor customer service response are a dealbreaker we can't ignore. It's a heartbreaker, not a workhorse.
